Relegation is a fear that haunts many clubs until the end of the season.

But for Dermot Gallagher relegation came swiftly this week after only two months of a new campaign - banished from the Premiership to soccer's wilderness. A right slap in the face.

Sorry, it was David Beckham who received that from Robbie Keane, wasn't it? Gallagher was the referee who didn't see red and has paid a mighty cost for his error.

Of course it had to happen in the current political climate because inconsistencies are what infuriate managers and players alike more than anything else. Didn't Paul Ince receive his marching orders for a flap at Niall Quinn while Keane didn't for decking Becks?

And wasn't Gallagher forewarned when he sat in a meeting of elite referees only 24 hours before Keane got punchy and the actions of Mark Halsey in dismissing Ince were applauded?

Our top whistler Paul Durkin was similarly despatched into the Football League at Third Division Luton Town last weekend for failing to dismiss Graeme Le Saux after a horrendous tackle on Leeds United's Danny Mills. Another signal that refs must be tough on implementing the laws or take the consequences.

However, what disturbs me most of all is the apparent huge gulf in understanding between soccer's policemen and the managers and players who determine their pressure.

Steve McClaren made a startling statement of ignorance following Gallagher's public hanging at Old Trafford. And, remember, McClaren is at the very height of his profession - boss of Premier League Middlesbrough and former No.2 to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

The Boro boss began by admitting that, when he referees practice matches in training, he finds it far from easy. "I'm a horrible ref," revealed the accuser, who is hardly likely to get the same flak from his own players currying favour as the man in the middle of a white-hot Premier-ship showdown.

McClaren insists "we have professional referees now but I've no idea what that involves." He hopes it's spending time between games receiving feedback and coaching.

He also admits that he doesn't go in to see the referee before matches as is allowed. Instead, he dispenses Boro's coach Steve Harrison because "what are the referees going to tell you that you don't already know?"

Does that not smack of an "us and them" situation which is at the very core of our national problems? And isn't that as much the managers' fault as it is the referees?

They supposedly see a match through unbiased eyes but do managers, coaches and players? I think not.

McClaren believes that Premier League officials are nowhere near as good as Europe's best, whom he names as Italian Pierluigi Collina.

That is as may be, but Boro's leader has a lot to learn too.

He believes that his man Ince shouldn't have been sent off so presumably he must think similarly with regard to Keane, an incident which has caused so much public debate. Yet the letter of the law states clearly that if players raise their hands to opponents they should receive a red card.

Perhaps that's something our Steve would learn if he went into the referee's room prior to a game and asked him!